Chapter 02:
Hermione quickly penned her note for long leave of absence, possibly even a sabbatical she hinted, to her boss at the Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures and sighed. So much for passing of those werewolf friendly laws next week! No worries though, her notes and research were solid and she knew her assistant, one Mr. Derek, was the best second to ensure it all went just as she had planned.
She tied the hastily written note to a postal owl's claw and let him fly.
She was in the ministry and so could have easily sent in a flier, but she thought that sending a request for a sabbatical was better done through post rather than an annoying little origami aeroplane!
After sorting it out, she apparated to her flat, packed her stuff and was back at the ministry, penning yet more notes for her two best friends to let them know that she was leaving for a long vacation with her best girl pal before they both had a burn out.
That was their cover. As far as their friends and family knew, they were touring the world. If anyone wondered about their sudden urge to up and leave, well, they weren't gonna be around for answering, were they?
She smirked as her accomplice stepped out of the fire grate.
"I'm glad we talked Kings into letting us take this one," Ginny rubbed her hands, her eyes shining with a wicked gleam that was most noticeably out of place on her innocent face. "I can't wait to acquaint myself with all those men with the old world charm and all."
"Gin, we've only got this opportunity because you convinced him that women won't be given a second thought in that society. So do remember that women back then weren't so forward. You try something too provocative and they'll label you something uncouth," Hermione smiled at her friend.
"Yeah, well, I've dated and broke up with Harry Potter. I'm pretty sure they don't have words bad enough to beat some of the press I received after that stint," Ginny shrugged casually in response.
Both girls stopped their teasing banter when they neared the Minister's offices. Pulling back the mask of professionalism on, they knocked on the secret door in their coded way and the door at once swung open in acceptance of their passcode.
"This is your medallion for travel. It will only work for one or both of you, no one else can activate it. Keep it safe, you'll need it for your return journey."
"These are your kits. Everything from the required potions to the appropriate winterwear is in it. Though I must say we have not much clue about the fashion from then so you girls will have to go there and transfigure your clothes accordingly."
"Meet the Lord Stark. Your pass phrase is 'We have come back in time to warn you of the approaching winter.' There is always a Stark at Winterfell and the members of the House of Stark are primed about our world at a very young age. The Head will see you immediately, brief him about your purpose and stay at Winterfell at all costs. You leave the North unprotected, the White Walkers will take over the world. Keep a Stark at Winterfell, under any circumstances. Starks have a pact with the Older White Walkers and till there is even one Stark left in Winterfell, the White Walkers will stay away."
"You're going to a time where witchcraft was a major taboo and its practitioners were burned at stake, so make sure to keep your special abilities hidden."
"Mix in the crowd. Mingle with them. Do not raise suspicions. Embed yourself in their society. We need to find what went wrong and to rectify the mistake or humanity will have no future whatsoever."
"You have your wand on your person?"
The two witches nodded.
"Do whatever it takes, but we need you to succeed."
They nodded again.
"Hold on tight to the medallion. It's ready to go in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.."
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